A 5p charge for single-use plastic bags takes effect in England from Monday (5 October) in an effort to spare the environment from the billions handed out by UK supermarkets every year.

The rules will apply to any business that sells or delivers goods, however, for nationwide retailers with fewer than 250 members of full-time staff the charge is optional.

Any unused, plastic bags with handles which are 70 microns thick or less will have a charge to the customer - this does not include any sealed packaging.

Online shoppers will pay too

This charge will also apply to online shopping orders, for example, Tesco have contacted customers highlighting the change: “So that we comply at tesco﻿.﻿com, unless you choose a bagless delivery, there will be a charge per order for an online grocery delivery or collection… worked out based on the average number of carrier bags needed to pack an order.”

Carrier bags used on the rise

In 2014 British supermarkets gave out 8.5 billion plastic bags, an increase of 2.3 % compared with 2013 (8.3 billion). The new 5p charge should hopefully reduce the number of plastic bags, which will be beneficial for the environment.

Similar 5p charges were introduced in Wales in October 2011; followed by Northern Ireland in April 2013 and Scotland in October 2014.

The scheme in Wales has seen a reduction in plastic bag consumption of 79% since it was launched in 2011. In Scotland, the number of bags handed out by supermarket has dropped by 147 million.

Exemptions from the 5p charge

Are you happy to pay for carrier bags?

But the new rules could cause confusion for retailers and shoppers alike as many items are exempt, including:

Goods in transport, such as at an airport or on a train, plane or ship.

Items considered as sealed packaging for mail order and click-and-collect orders.

Returnable multiple reuse bags (bags for life).

Bags used to give away free promotional material.

Bags used for a service where there’s no sale of goods e.g. dry cleaning, shoe repairs N.B. If even one non-exempt item is placed in the bag, cashiers must charge 5p.

Bag charges to help good causes

Retailers are expected to donate all proceeds from carrier bag sales to good causes.

The biggest donations will be generated by the supermarkets.

Boots will give all UK proceeds to Children in Need.

Morrisons will give money to the Sue Ryder hospices and Superdrug is donating the money to support Marie Curie Cancer Care.

However, the government is set to make £19m a year from the VAT attached to the sales of bags.

Small retailers not included

The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) said it was encouraging its members in England to introduce their own voluntary charging schemes wherever practical.

James Lowman, chief executive of the ACS, said: “Independent retailers in England support the introduction of a universal 5p single-use carrier bag charge, with 15% already having their own voluntary scheme in place.

“Unfortunately, the Government has chosen to exclude small businesses, creating confusion for both retailers and consumers.”

Break the Bag Habit

The initiative appears to have the support of the majority of shoppers in England, with 62% thinking it is reasonable to charge 5p for all carrier bags - a 6% increase on 2012, a poll for the Break the Bag Habit coalition of litter charities found.

But the latest survey found 51% were in support of an even more comprehensive scheme that extended the charge to all retailers.

Break the Bag Habit spokeswoman Samantha Harding said: “It is great that the Government has decided to introduce a bag charge in England, starting with major retailers and plastic bags.

“This poll shows that the appetite is there to support a more comprehensive scheme, and tackle more of the bag litter that blights our countryside, rivers, towns and seas.”